What do these courses have in common?

[Jeff_Lewis]

What do all of these courses have in common? They were all, at one time, listed in the top 100 by Golf Digest. Fame can be fleeting. A good deal of the value of these lists, for me, is that they point out courses worth seeing. I figure that anything that has ever been ranked deserves a look.

On GD's website they have an all-time roster that lists every course that has ever made the list. Would be interested if anybody has any comments on any of the following:

Annandale
Arcadian Shores
BallanIsles
Bonita Bay
Cedar Ridge
Charlotte CC
CC of Birmingham
CC of Hershey
Grenelefe
Kauai Lagoons
La Quinta
Lakeview Resort
Mayacoo Lakes
Meadow Brook
Moselem Springs
North Shore CC
Northland
Palm-Aire
Pauma Valley
Preston Trail
Quail Creek
Red Foz
Royal Kaanapali
Timberlane

[Mike_Cirba]

Jeff;

Generally, courses built in the 50s-70s have little originality or staying power.

That's what that list says to me, although I'd argue the merits of a few of them, perhaps not as deserving Top 100, but as very good courses.

[Jeff_Lewis]

That is probably a good explanation.

[JakaB]

I think if you study the historical trends of that site you may notice the coatails of Shinnecock have started to move Flynn into darling teritory....All sane men know Shinnecock is the greatest course in the land architecturally....and if you look hard and long...you will see that people are starting to move each and every Flynn course up the ladder bit by bit....I find that link to be the most interesting of all of the off-shoots.

[THuckaby2]

All sane men know Shinnecock is the greatest course in the land architecturally....

Bummer.  There, I am insane now (use voice of Dieter from Sprockets on SNL).  Shinnecock isn't even the greatest course in its immediate area architecturally.That honor goes to its neighbor.  

TH

[JSlonis]

The Bonita Bay(Marsh) course that used to be ranked no longer exists as it did originally.  Some of the holes from the Marsh course were split up to create the newer Bay Island course.  

[T_MacWood]

Palmetto Dunes-Fazio and Haig Point are another two that come to mind. My guess would be that Sycamore Hills would be a present canidate, but the course appears to have staying power on the GD list and with that staying power comes beaucoup tradition points!

[cary lichtenstein]

Somebody has to fall out to make room for the new. With 300 to 500 courses coming on line every year, with great sites and/or the technology to move dirt, eventually most of the old, flat, back and forth courses will be downgraded.

[Mike Hendren]

Mike,  I think your explanation has merit.  Accordingly, I'm a little surprised that Shoal Creek (circa 1979?) has such staying power.

Barney,

Your Flynn comment is interesting.  I enjoyed Cascades immensely a couple of years ago, but as I've had the opportunity to travel about  a little more and benefitted from the hospitality of certain treehouse members, I would place it a little farther down both lists.  It has some plain holes, uninspiring green contours and pedstrian bunkering.   I hope my host there doesn't see this.  

Regards,

Mike